Hello fellow independent thinkers!
In case you forgot about me, I am a staunch independent really excited in sharing my opinion on what’s going on in the world, embracing of all perspective and open to dialogue. There’s too much working against us to divide us as a society. More dialogue = more understanding.
I miss you. There, I said it. Thank you for giving me the attention and time in opening this email.
I’ve had quite a year but I won’t bore you with the details (unless you want me to?! Let me know). One thing to be sure of. I’ve still been ultra plugged in to the news, and boy I’ve had opinions. So here’s one of ‘em.
But I’m here and back ready to give my take on current events and one perspective however often I can. Knowing this came from an independent place always open for a dialogue.
Earlier this week a contemporary at UJA Federation of NY asked me about what y stance is on Israel being Jewish AND democratic.
In America, we have a strict (in text at least) separation of Church and State, so it’s strange for an American to think of a democracy that is intertwined with a religion. I get that.
I remember the day in college when Secretary Kerry yelled in the Oval Office that Israel is at the tipping point of being Jewish and undemocratic. I was enraged, and even offended. Nonetheless, I sat and listened with an open mind, something my grandpa taught me to do. When I was done listening, I somewhat agreed with our Secretary Of State.
Israel’s beauty is that it’s Jewish and Democratic. That’s the beauty of the country. Those two elements boil down to two key components. First, is the preservation of the Jewish majority. Without the Jewish majority, Israel as a zionist project becomes defunct and meaningless. Second, being the future of the Palestinian sovereignty.
As prompted, simulating if Israel became more democratic then Jewish, presumably that means adopting a one person (as opposed to a citizen), one vote model. In that case, Israel is going to be led straight into what scholars call the battle of the bedroom where Jews will clearly lose. Assuming all democratic norms are followed, that would result in a pure democratic takeover and effective dissolution of the Jewish state. To me, an ardent supporter of the Jewish state, a “more democratic” swing such as this would be unacceptable.
Drawing on my second element of being Jewish and democratic, I chose the term “Palestinian sovereignty,” (not “equality for all persons)” cognizant of the rash inequalities between “olim” and natives, Ashkenazi and Mizrahi, dark and light skinned Israelis. Truthfully, this groups of citizens have the democratic means to evoke change within the current democratic structure. They have a voice, vote and representation. Of which, the Palestinians have none.
My grandfather, born in 1937 Aleppo, worked alongside 1948 refugees, and lived the ’56, ’67, ’73 and ’82 wars behind enemy lines. In 1986 he asked a member of Knesset, “you have millions of these people (the Palestinians) what are you going to do with them? Anything? Kill them? Expel them? What is the end game?” The MK’s answer was just as disappointing as I’m afraid it is today. “It’s not my/our problem” he replied.
With these two conditions, the two-state solution is the best case scenario for Israel staying Jewish and democratic. If a two state solution cannot be achieved a confederacy of sorts whereby Palestinians would be able to self govern domestic affairs would be next best. My goal is for Palestinians to at least have some level of self-determination. However, a red line would be if Israel went undemocratic enough to strip citizenship, or stop granting citizenship to non-Jews. These citizens are just as Israeli as a Jew.
Turning to Israel becoming more Jewish than democratic, the current climate is trending in the direction of making the two state solution being made less and less possible. A situation where Israel abdicates its democratic status is increasingly probable. If this plays out, I wouldn’t stop supporting the existence of the state. This is the Jewish homeland and Jews come first. But I would be very concerned about those living in the land without self-determination
In addition to the red line earlier mentioned, another red line I can think of is if Israel would restrict dissent, disagreement and debate, most especially against the government. The protests against the Court reforms were of the utmost beauty, not because of my concurrence, but because of the vibrancy of dissent in Israel. This directly ties into the ability to hold government to account for the will of the people. Another red line would be the institution of Halacha as law. I say this as am an observant Jew living according to Halacha. But I don’t think the state of Israel should act to enforce laws as written millennia ago.
How’s that for an answer? Reply. Let me know your thoughts!
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